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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Undergraduate Inbound Exchange

We welcome exchange students from around the world to study for a term or two.

Experience life in Canada, globalize your education and get involved with all that Ontario Tech has to offer! 

Becoming an exchange student

  • STEP 1: Check your eligibility

    To be accepted to Ontario Tech's exchange program, you must be nominated by one of our partner universities. Please contact your home university for details about the nomination process. Please note:

    • The nomination deadline is March 15. Nominations for winter only may be considered later but the recommended deadline remains March 15.
    • Inbound Nomination Form to be completed by the partner's International Office representative.
    • Course offerings in spring/summer are limited, so an exchange may not be possible.
    • Entry to graduate-level courses is restricted. Students wishing to take graduate-level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    If your university is not a current exchange partner, you cannot apply to our university as an exchange student. For information about coming as a visiting student, see the admissions information for non-degree track applicants.

    English language proficiency

    An English language proficiency test is not required. Partner schools must confirm that candidates nominated for exchange meet Ontario Tech's English language proficiency requirements at the time of nomination. 

  • STEP 2: Apply to Ontario Tech

    Once you are nominated, please complete the online exchange application. The application deadline is April 15. Students nominated for a graduate exchange will be sent separate instructions on the graduate exchange application process.

    Required documents

    Please note that you will be required to upload these documents to submit the online application:

    • A copy of your passport
    • A current transcript (including courses in progress)

    Official letter of acceptance

    Undergraduate exchange admissions decisions are normally made in May and June. After we have received and assessed your exchange application, we will send you an official letter of acceptance. You will need this to get a Canadian entry visa/Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and/or study permit.

    Visit our immigration information webpage to learn about the requirements for entry into Canada.  

  • STEP 3: Choose your courses

    Before you can register for undergraduate courses, you will need to get approvals from the various Faculties' academic advisors. To help ensure a smooth process, it is important that you read everything in steps three to five carefully.

    Quick facts:

    • Undergraduate students are not eligible to enroll in graduate courses (course codes beginning with 5+)
    • Students can be enrolled in a maximum of five courses per semester
    • Not all courses are offered every term: Check the Class Schedule Search for course availability in the term you will be at Ontario Tech
    • It takes about 30 minutes to travel between the North and Downtown Campuses
    • Course descriptions and course codes can be found in the Academic Calendar
    • Course registration numbers (CRN) and section numbers can be found using our Class Schedule Search (the term must match your exchange term)
    • Some courses have a lecture as well as an associated lab and/or tutorial
    • To register in a course with a prerequisite, you must submit the syllabus from a course you have completed at your home institution for an equivalency evaluation

    Find courses

    You may register for a maximum of five courses per term. However, we recommend taking only three to four courses if your home university will allow. You should apply to take seven courses in case you are unable to take your first choice courses. Course registration is only possible with Faculty approval in courses where space is available. Preference is given to Ontario Tech students requiring the course to graduate in courses with limited space.

    Course descriptions can be found in the Academic Calendar. Note the course codes for your study plan.

    Check prerequisite courses

    If you wish to take a course at Ontario Tech with a pre-requisite, you will need to submit proof of equivalent knowledge from a course(s) at your home institution. Collect course syllabi or course outlines for these courses in English to submit with your study plan.

    Note the course codes for Ontario Tech prerequisites for your study plan.

    Create your schedule

    You can preview available courses any time after June 15 for the following Fall and Winter.

    Make sure to review the scheduling information carefully. Choose courses that do not have time conflicts and that are offered in the term when you will be studying at Ontario Tech. Please also note the location of the course. It takes approximately 30 minutes to travel between our North and downtown campuses.

    What do the letters mean?
    M T W R F
    Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
  • STEP 4: Fill out a study plan

    Once you have your course list, fill out a Study Plan for each term that you will be at Ontario Tech. List courses in your order of preference and make sure to clearly indicate prerequisite course information.

     Study Plan Form

     

    Find the CRNs

    Course registration numbers (CRN) can be found in the Class Schedule Search tool.

    Submit your study plan

    Submit in a single email to internationalexchange@ontariotechu.ca:  

    • Your study plan for each term
    • Your transcript
    • All prerequisite course syllabi

    All documents must be submitted in English.

    The subject of your email must include your full name, student number and “Study Plan(s).”

    Not following these instructions will cause delays in your course registration. Classes can fill quickly, so you are advised to complete this step as early as possible and at least two months prior to your term start date.

    Wait for approvals

    Once you have submitted your study plan, your academic advisor(s) need to review your documents and add overrides to the registration system which will allow you to enroll yourself into available courses. This process can take several weeks. You will receive an email(s) when your courses are approved.

  • STEP 5: Register in MyOntarioTech

    As you receive approvals, start registering for your courses in MyOntarioTech, Ontario Tech’s student portal.

    For courses that have a lecture and an associated lab and/or tutorial, make sure that you are registered in all sections.

    If you have any questions about logging in to the portal or have trouble with your log-in/password, please contact the IT Helpdesk at +1.905.721.3333 or by email at servicedesk@dc-uoit.ca.

    When you have completed registration for all of your courses in MyOntarioTech, send an email to internationalexchange@ontariotechu.ca to confirm you have completed the process.

  • STEP 6: Prepare to come to Ontario Tech

    Flights

    You must be at Ontario Tech from the beginning of MyStart: International, our orientation for international and exchange students, until the end of the exam period. Check the Academic Schedule for important dates. Be sure to plan around the December holiday closure.

    Immigration

    Visit our immigration for exchange students webpage for more information on if you will need to apply for a study permit.

    Housing

    The choice is up to you! See where you will live for information on your options.

    Laptops

    Ontario Tech provides a technology enriched learning environment. You must have a laptop computer that meets the minimum hardware specifications in the Laptop Standards while you study at Ontario Tech.

    Orientation

    All exchange students must attend MyStart: International, our orientation program for international and exchange students. You may also register for other optional orientation programs like MyStart: Orientation (for new undergraduate students) or MyStart: Graduate (for new graduate students). Register for each orientation program you will attend.

    Events

    Bring photos, snacks and little things from home to share with the Ontario Tech community at various events while you are here. All exchange students are encouraged to be exhibitors at two of our big events on campus: the International Exchange Fair (Fall) and Languages of Pangaea (Winter).

  • STEP 7: Pay your fees

    As an exchange student, you must pay the following fees each term:

    UHIP The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is a basic emergency health insurance plan similar to the Ontario provincial health insurance (OHIP) that is mandatory for all exchange students. Plan information can be found at uhip.ca. You may want to purchase private health insurance to cover yourself beyond UHIP.
    U-Pass U-Pass is a transportation pass that allows you unlimited access to Durham Region Transit. Current costs can be found on the Ancillary Fees page. 

    How do I pay my fees?

    Current costs can be found on the Ancillary Fees page for graduate and undergraduate programs. 

    The fees you owe are listed on MyOntarioTech. These fees must be paid at the beginning of each term through one of the accepted payment options. Popular options for exchange students are PayMyTuition and Flywire.


"I spent one year studying at Ontario Tech University. The classes are a lot more practice-oriented than in Germany, and I worked on case studies, along with many group projects. I spent most of my weekends travelling.  I explored Toronto, visited Algonquin Provincial Park, Bruce Peninsula and Niagara Falls. During my reading week I travelled to New York and Mexico for some sunlight in the winter. However, don’t let the Canadian winter scare you away. There are a lot of great activities to do during the winter, like dogsledding, ice skating, skiing, long snow walks and hikes through beautiful nature. Come to Oshawa and see what Ontario has to offer!"

Sonja from Universität Tubingen, Germany